US8204392B2 - Image forming device - Google Patents

Image forming device Download PDF

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Publication number
US8204392B2
US8204392B2 US12/816,702 US81670210A US8204392B2 US 8204392 B2 US8204392 B2 US 8204392B2 US 81670210 A US81670210 A US 81670210A US 8204392 B2 US8204392 B2 US 8204392B2
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status
development
holding body
image forming
unit
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US12/816,702
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US20110026946A1 (en
Inventor
Tetsuya Okano
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Brother Industries Ltd
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Brother Industries Ltd
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Assigned to BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA reassignment BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: OKANO, TETSUYA
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
    • G03G15/14—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for transferring a pattern to a second base
    • G03G15/16—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for transferring a pattern to a second base of a toner pattern, e.g. a powder pattern, e.g. magnetic transfer
    • G03G15/1605—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for transferring a pattern to a second base of a toner pattern, e.g. a powder pattern, e.g. magnetic transfer using at least one intermediate support
    • G03G15/161—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for transferring a pattern to a second base of a toner pattern, e.g. a powder pattern, e.g. magnetic transfer using at least one intermediate support with means for handling the intermediate support, e.g. heating, cleaning, coating with a transfer agent
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
    • G03G15/06—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for developing
    • G03G15/08—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for developing using a solid developer, e.g. powder developer
    • G03G15/0822—Arrangements for preparing, mixing, supplying or dispensing developer
    • G03G15/0848—Arrangements for testing or measuring developer properties or quality, e.g. charge, size, flowability
    • G03G15/0856—Detection or control means for the developer level
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
    • G03G15/06—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for developing
    • G03G15/08—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for developing using a solid developer, e.g. powder developer
    • G03G15/0822—Arrangements for preparing, mixing, supplying or dispensing developer
    • G03G15/0848—Arrangements for testing or measuring developer properties or quality, e.g. charge, size, flowability
    • G03G15/0856—Detection or control means for the developer level
    • G03G15/0862—Detection or control means for the developer level the level being measured by optical means
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
    • G03G15/06—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for developing
    • G03G15/08—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for developing using a solid developer, e.g. powder developer
    • G03G15/0822—Arrangements for preparing, mixing, supplying or dispensing developer
    • G03G15/0887—Arrangements for conveying and conditioning developer in the developing unit, e.g. agitating, removing impurities or humidity
    • G03G15/0889—Arrangements for conveying and conditioning developer in the developing unit, e.g. agitating, removing impurities or humidity for agitation or stirring

Definitions

  • the following description relates to one or more image forming devices configured to perform a cleaning operation and an operation of detecting a remaining toner amount in execution of warming-up.
  • An image forming device which includes a plurality of photoconductive bodies such as photoconductive drums that are disposed to face a conveying belt, a plurality of development devices each of which is configured to get into contact with and apart from a corresponding one of the photoconductive bodies, and a plurality of transfer devices each of which is disposed to contact the conveying belt so as to face a corresponding one of the photoconductive bodies across the conveying belt.
  • each development device is configured to accommodate development agent (toner) of a corresponding one of colors, black, cyan, yellow, and magenta.
  • the image forming device is configured to, in execution of warming-up implemented before an image forming operation, perform a cleaning operation to transfer, onto the conveying belt, toner adhering onto the photoconductive bodies and remove the toner (waste toner) from the conveying belt.
  • the waste toner on the conveying belt is generally collected into a waste toner box that is disposed in a position adjacent to the conveying belt and away from the photoconductive bodies.
  • an operation of detecting the amount of toner remaining in each development device is performed as well as the cleaning operation.
  • the image forming device is required to detect the remaining toner amount at a predetermined moment during the image forming operation (e.g., during a continuous printing operation) as well.
  • the image forming device is configured to perform the operation of detecting the remaining toner amount in a state (a contact state) where each development device contacts a corresponding one of the photoconductive bodies.
  • the known image forming device is configured to separately perform the cleaning operation and the operation of detecting the remaining toner amount.
  • a configuration for the image forming device has a problem that it takes much time to perform each warming-up operation.
  • it is considered to reduce the time taken for the warming-up operation by executing the cleaning operation concurrently with the operation of detecting the remaining toner amount.
  • it results in an undesirable situation that a different color of toner might be mixed into toner stored in each development device.
  • aspects of the present invention are advantageous to provide one or more improved techniques for an image forming device that make it possible to perform a warming-up operation in an efficient and preferable manner.
  • an image forming device which includes an image forming unit that includes a conveying belt, an image holding body disposed to face the conveying belt, a development unit configured to be set in any of a contact state where the development unit contacts the image holding body and a separate state where the development unit is apart from the image holding body, and a transfer unit disposed to contact the conveying belt so as to face the image holding body across the conveying belt, the transfer unit being configured to transfer, onto the conveying belt, development agent held on the image holding body.
  • the image forming device further includes a cleaner configured to perform cleaning to remove the development agent that is transferred from the image holding body onto the conveying belt, a remaining amount detector configured to, in the contact state where the development unit contacts the image holding body, perform detection of an amount of development agent remaining in the development unit, a status identifying unit configured to identify a status of development agent on the image holding body between a first status where it is presumed that there is a small amount of development agent on the image holding body and a second status where it is presumed that there is a large amount of development agent on the image holding body, and a controller configured to control the cleaner and the remaining amount detector during a warming-up operation performed before an image forming operation by the image forming unit.
  • a cleaner configured to perform cleaning to remove the development agent that is transferred from the image holding body onto the conveying belt
  • a remaining amount detector configured to, in the contact state where the development unit contacts the image holding body, perform detection of an amount of development agent remaining in the development unit
  • a status identifying unit configured to identify a status of
  • the controller controls the remaining amount detector to perform the detection in execution of the cleaning by the cleaner.
  • the controller controls the remaining amount detector to perform the detection, after execution of the cleaning by the cleaner in the separate state where the development unit is apart from the image holding body.
  • FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional side view schematically showing a configuration of an image forming device in an embodiment according to one or more aspects of the present invention.
  • FIGS. 2A to 2C are cross-sectional side views partially showing a configuration of a development device in the embodiment according to one or more aspects of the present invention.
  • FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of the development device when viewed in a front-to-rear direction of the image forming device in the embodiment according to one or more aspects of the present invention.
  • FIG. 4 is a block diagram partially showing an electrical configuration of the image forming device in the embodiment according to one or more aspects of the present invention.
  • FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a detailed procedure of a cover monitoring process to be executed by a CPU of a controller in the embodiment according to one or more aspects of the present invention.
  • FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a detailed procedure of an image forming process to be executed by the CPU of the controller in the embodiment according to one or more aspects of the present invention.
  • FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a detailed procedure of a warming-up process to be executed by the CPU of the controller in the embodiment according to one or more aspects of the present invention.
  • FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a detailed procedure of a first warming-up mode process to be executed by the CPU of the controller in the embodiment according to one or more aspects of the present invention.
  • FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a detailed procedure of a second warming-up mode process to be executed by the CPU of the controller in the embodiment according to one or more aspects of the present invention.
  • FIG. 10 is a diagram showing how the image forming device is transferred from one operational state to another in the embodiment according to one or more aspects of the present invention.
  • each of front, rear, left, right, up, and down sides will be defined as depicted in FIG. 1 .
  • an image forming device 1 which is a direct-transfer tandem type color image forming device, includes a substantially box-shaped housing 2 .
  • a catch tray 3 a is formed, on which a recording sheet (hereinafter, which may simply be referred to as a sheet) with an image formed thereon is placed.
  • the image forming device 1 includes a top cover 3 formed integrally with the catch tray 3 a .
  • the top cover 3 is configured to cover the upside of the image forming device 1 and to be openable and closable around an upper rear end of the image forming device 1 . When the top cover 3 is opened, below-mentioned image forming units 31 can be detached upward from the inside of the housing 2 .
  • the image forming device 1 includes, inside the housing 2 , a feeder unit 10 for supplying a recording sheet, an image forming section 30 configured to perform an image forming operation on the recording sheet supplied from the feeder unit 10 , and a controller 40 (see FIG. 4 ) configured to take control to drive the aforementioned units.
  • the feeder unit 10 includes a feed tray 11 on which recording sheets are stacked, a feed roller 11 a that is disposed above a front end of the feed tray 11 and configured to feed sheets, a separation roller 12 configured to pick up a sheet from the feed tray 11 , a pair of pitch rollers 14 configured to convey the sheet fed by the separation roller 12 to a conveying mechanism 20 , a pair of registration rollers 4 disposed above the pitch rollers 14 (and behind a manual feed tray 15 ), and the manual feed tray 15 for directly feeding a sheet from a front face of the housing 2 .
  • the conveying mechanism 20 is incorporated inside the housing 2 .
  • the conveying mechanism 20 includes a driving roller 21 configured to rotate in conjunction with operations of the image forming section 30 , a driven roller 22 rotatably provided in a position away from the driving roller 21 , and a conveying belt 23 hung around both the driving roller 21 and the driven roller 22 .
  • the conveying belt 23 is driven by the driving roller 21 so as to turn in a clockwise direction shown in FIG. 1 , and configured to feed backward a sheet placed thereon.
  • a belt cleaning unit 5 configured to remove material such as development agent (hereinafter referred to as toner) adhering to the conveying belt 23 .
  • the belt cleaning unit 5 is disposed in contact with the conveying belt 23 . Further, the belt cleaning unit 5 includes a roller-shaped belt cleaner 6 configured to, when a predetermined voltage is applied thereto, collect material on the conveying belt 23 , and a waste toner box 7 for storing the material (especially, waste toner) collected by the belt cleaner 6 .
  • the image forming section 30 includes the aforementioned conveying belt 23 (the conveying mechanism 20 ), LED units 50 for forming an electrostatic latent image on an outer circumferential surface of each photoconductive drum 8 , a process unit 60 configured to develop the electrostatic latent images formed by the LED units 50 with toner and to transfer the developed images (toner images) onto a sheet conveyed by the conveying mechanism 20 , and a fixing unit 70 configured to fix the image(s) transferred by the process unit 60 .
  • the process unit 60 includes a plurality of image forming units 31 (in the embodiment, four image forming units 31 ), a plurality of transfer rollers 9 (in the embodiment, four transfer rollers 9 ) configured to respectively press a sheet against the photoconductive drums 8 of the image forming units 31 , and roller-shaped OPC cleaners 38 each of which is provided for a corresponding one of the photoconductive drums 8 .
  • Each transfer roller 9 is provided for a corresponding one of the photoconductive drums 8 , and disposed in contact with the conveying belt 23 so as to face the corresponding photoconductive drum 8 across the conveying belt 23 .
  • a predetermined voltage hereinafter, which may be referred to as a transfer bias voltage
  • a transfer bias voltage which is required for transferring, onto a sheet or the conveying belt 23 , the toner adhering onto the outer circumferential surface of the photoconductive drum 8 , is applied between the transfer roller 9 and the photoconductive drum 8 , a predetermined transfer current is carried therebetween.
  • Each OPC cleaner 38 is disposed behind a corresponding one of photoconductive drums 8 so as to contact the corresponding photoconductive drum 8 .
  • the OPC cleaner 38 is configured to collect toner remaining on the outer circumferential surface of the corresponding photoconductive drum 8 and to return the collected toner onto the outer circumferential surface of the corresponding photoconductive drum 8 at a predetermined moment. It is noted that the OPC cleaner 38 is configured to, when a predetermined negative voltage (e.g., ⁇ 400V) is applied thereto, collect the toner from the photoconductive drum 8 . Further, when a predetermined positive voltage (e.g., +400V) is applied, the OPC cleaner 38 returns the collected toner to the photoconductive drum 8 .
  • a predetermined negative voltage e.g., ⁇ 400V
  • +400V a predetermined positive voltage
  • Each image forming unit 31 includes a corresponding one of the photoconductive drums 8 respectively disposed along a conveying direction (in which a sheet is conveyed on the conveying belt 23 ) so as to face the conveying belt 23 , an electrification device 31 a configured to electrostatically charge the corresponding photoconductive drum 8 , and a development device 32 configured to be brought into contact with and apart from the corresponding photoconductive drum 8 . It is noted that in the embodiment, each photoconductive drum 8 is disposed to contact the conveying belt 23 and rotate in conjunction with the movement of the conveying belt 23 .
  • Each electrification device 31 a is disposed at an obliquely upper side behind the photoconductive drum 8 , so as to face the photoconductive drum 8 a predetermined distance away from the photoconductive drum 8 . Further, the electrification device 31 a is configured to electrostatically-charge the outer circumferential surface of the photoconductive drum 8 positively and evenly, by generating a corona discharge when a predetermined voltage is applied.
  • Each development device 32 includes a toner container 33 configured to accommodate toner, a supply roller 35 configured to supply the toner from the toner container 33 to a development roller 36 , the development roller 36 that is disposed to contact the supply roller 35 and configured to develop the electrostatic latent image on the photoconductive drum 8 with the toner supplied from the supply roller 35 , and the aforementioned roller-shaped OPC cleaner 38 .
  • the development roller 36 is configured to rotate in conjunction with the photoconductive drum 8 while contacting the photoconductive drum 8 .
  • the toner containers 33 store toner (specifically, positively-chargeable nonmagnetic one-component toner) of respective colors (black K, yellow Y, magenta M, and cyan C in the order from an upstream side in the conveying direction of the conveying belt 23 ) that differ from a cartridge 24 to another.
  • toner specifically, positively-chargeable nonmagnetic one-component toner
  • each development device 32 includes an agitator 41 configured to agitate the toner stored in the toner container 33 , and two toner detection windows 42 for detecting the amount of remaining toner that are provided in an outer wall 37 (see FIG. 3 ) of the toner container 33 . It is noted that the agitator 41 is configured to rotate in conjunction with the development roller 36 .
  • the toner detection windows 42 are formed from optically transparent material.
  • the toner detection windows 42 are disposed to face each other across the toner container 33 in a width direction (i.e., in the left-to-right direction in FIG. 1 ).
  • the toner detection window 42 are placed on an optical path of detection light emitted by a toner sensor 64 (see FIG. 3 ).
  • each toner detection window 42 is formed in such a size as to be out of the optical path of detection light in a state (hereinafter referred to as a separate state) where the development device 32 is apart from the photoconductive drum 8 .
  • each toner sensor 64 includes a light emitter 43 that emits detection light toward one of the toner detection windows 42 from the outside, and a light receiver 44 that receives the detection light transmitted through the toner detection windows 42 . Further, the toner sensor 64 is configured to issue a detection signal to the controller 40 (see FIG. 4 ) each time the light receiver 44 detects the detection light.
  • each LED unit 50 is configured, in a known manner, to perform an exposure operation using LEDs (not shown). Specifically, each LED unit 50 is configured to, in response to receipt of image data and a control command from the controller 40 (see FIG. 4 ), perform high-speed scanning on a corresponding one of the photoconductive drums 8 with the LEDs of a corresponding color, at timing and an exposure speed that are defined by the control command.
  • the fixing unit 70 includes a heating roller 16 that feeds a sheet while heating toner transferred onto the sheet, and a pressing roller 17 that is disposed to face the heating roller 16 across the sheet and configured to press the sheet against the heating roller 16 .
  • the fixing unit 70 is configured to heat, melt, and fix the toner transferred onto the sheet. It is noted that the sheet, after passing through the fixing unit 70 , is further fed by feed rollers 19 , and then ejected onto the catch tray 3 a via one or more ejections rollers 18 .
  • the image forming section 30 is configured to transfer toner images, which are respectively formed on the photoconductive drums 8 through exposure with LED light emitted by the LED units 50 and development by the image forming units 31 , onto the sheet being fed by the conveying mechanism 20 from the feeder unit and passing through the process unit 60 . Further, the image forming section 30 is configured to fix the toner images transferred onto the sheet when the sheet is passing through the fixing unit 70 .
  • the controller 40 is configured to control a main motor 51 , a development device driving motor 52 , and a transmission mechanism 53 .
  • the main motor 51 is a driving source of the image forming device 1 .
  • the development device driving motor 52 is configured to move each development device 32 relative to a corresponding one of the photoconductive drums 8 so as to switch the state of the development device 32 between the contact state and the separate state.
  • the transmission mechanism 53 is configured to transmit a driving force from the main motor 51 to driving shafts of various rollers provided to the image forming device 1 and controls intermittence and shift transmission of the driving force.
  • the controller 40 is connected with an electrification bias circuit 54 , a development bias circuit 55 , a transfer bias circuit 56 , an OPC cleaner bias circuit 57 , and a belt cleaner bias circuit 58 .
  • the electrification bias circuit 54 , the development bias circuit 55 , the transfer bias circuit 56 , the OPC cleaner bias circuit 57 , and the belt cleaner bias circuit 58 are configured to control voltages applied to each electrification device 31 a , each development roller 36 , each transfer roller 9 , each OPC cleaner 38 , and the belt cleaner 6 , respectively.
  • the controller 40 is connected with a signal receiver 61 and an external-input acceptor 62 .
  • the signal receiver 61 is configured to receive detection signals from a sensor group 59 of sensors disposed in various positions of the image forming device 1 .
  • the external-input acceptor 62 is configured to accept external inputs such as a user command and image data transmitted by an external device (e.g., a personal computer).
  • the sensor group 59 contains a development device state sensor 63 configured to detect the state (i.e., the contact state or the separate state) of the development devices 32 , a position sensor 65 configured to detect a position of a sheet inside the housing 2 , a cover state sensor 66 configured to detect a state (i.e., an opened state or a closed state) of the top cover 3 , and the aforementioned toner sensor 64 .
  • the controller 40 is configured with a known microcomputer that includes a CPU 71 , a ROM 72 , a RAM 73 , and a bus line via which the aforementioned elements are interconnected. Based on programs stored on the ROM 72 , the CPU 71 executes a cover monitoring process, an image forming process, and a warming-up process, which processes will be described in detail below.
  • the RAM 73 of the embodiment is configured as a non-volatile memory, on which a flag memory area is secured to store a status flag that represents a status (a toner adhering status) of toner adhering onto the photoconductive drums 8 .
  • the CPU 71 resets (clears) the status flag when presuming that there is a small amount of toner adhering to the photoconductive drums 8 , the conveying belt 23 , and the OPC cleaners 38 (the toner adhering status: a first status). Meanwhile, the CPU 71 sets the status flag when presuming that there is a large amount of toner adhering to the photoconductive drums 8 , the conveying belt 23 , and the OPC cleaners 38 (the toner adhering status: a second status).
  • a cover monitoring process will be described with reference to FIG. 5 .
  • the cover monitoring process is launched when the image forming device 1 is powered on, and repeatedly executed until the image forming device 1 is powered off.
  • the CPU 71 first determines, based on a detection result by the cover state sensor 66 , whether the top cover 3 is opened (S 110 ). When determining that the top cover 3 is opened (S 110 : Yes), the CPU 71 goes to S 120 . Meanwhile, when determining that the top cover 3 is not opened (S 110 : No), the CPU 71 repeatedly performs the step S 110 .
  • the CPU 71 forcibly terminates the below-mentioned image forming process and warming-up process (S 120 ). Subsequently, in S 130 , the CPU 71 sets the status flag by storing the status flag in association with the second status into the flag memory area secured on the RAM 73 (S 130 ).
  • one or more photoconductive drums 8 and/or the conveying belt 23 may be replaced by the user.
  • the photoconductive drums 8 and/or the conveying belt 23 is likely to be contaminated by waste toner. Therefore, the CPU 71 sets the status flag to the second status where it is presumed that there is a large amount of waste toner on the photoconductive drums 8 and the conveying belt 23 .
  • a subsequent step S 140 the CPU 71 determines, based on a detection result of the cover state sensor 66 , whether the top cover 3 is closed (S 140 ). When determining that the top cover 3 is closed (S 140 : Yes), the CPU 71 goes to S 150 . Meanwhile, when determining that the top cover 3 is not closed (S 140 : No), the CPU 71 repeatedly executes the step S 140 .
  • the image forming process as shown in FIG. 6 is launched when a print request is accepted via the external-input acceptor 62 from an external device in a standby state S 2 (see FIG. 10 ) where the image forming unit 30 is ready to perform an image forming operation.
  • the CPU 71 sets the main motor 51 on (S 205 ). Subsequently, the CPU 71 sets the development devices 32 to the contact state (S 210 ), and then goes to S 215 . Specifically, in S 210 , when determining that the development devices are in the separate state based on a detection result of the development device state sensor 63 , the CPU 71 controls the development device driving motor 52 to move each development device 32 to such a position as to contact a corresponding one of the photoconductive drums 8 .
  • the CPU 71 sets the status flag (to the second status) in the flag memory area on the RAM 73 (S 215 ), and then advances to S 220 .
  • the CPU 71 controls the image forming unit 30 to form an image on a sheet in a known manner in accordance with image data to be printed based on the print request (S 220 ). Additionally, the CPU 71 controls the OPC cleaner bias circuit 57 to apply a predetermined negative voltage to the OPC cleaners 38 , such that the OPC cleaners 38 collect toner remaining on the outer circumferential surfaces of the photoconductive drums 8 .
  • the CPU 71 sets the status flag in the flag memory area on the RAM 73 to the second status where there is a large amount of toner remaining on the photoconductive drums 8 or the OPC cleaners 38 .
  • the CPU 71 determines whether the operation of printing the image data in S 220 is completely performed (S 221 ). When determining that the operation of printing the image data in S 220 is completely performed (S 221 : Yes), the CPU 71 goes to S 225 . Meanwhile, when determining that the operation of printing the image data in S 220 is not completely performed (S 221 : No), the CPU 71 goes to S 230 .
  • the CPU 71 determines whether image data remains in a receipt buffer (namely, whether there is image data to be subsequently printed) (S 225 ). When determining that image data remains in the receipt buffer (S 225 : Yes), the CPU 71 goes to S 255 . Meanwhile, when determining that image data does not remain in the receipt buffer (S 225 : No), the CPU 71 goes to S 220 .
  • the CPU 71 determines whether there is any error caused during the operation of printing the image data in S 220 .
  • the CPU 71 uses detection result of the position sensor 65 or the cover state sensor 66 or any other sensors for the determination.
  • the CPU 71 goes to S 235 .
  • the CPU 71 goes to S 220 .
  • the error includes a paper jam inside the housing 2 , the opened state of the top cover 3 , and emergency stop of an image forming operation by the image forming unit 30 due to malfunction of the main motor 51 that might be caused in the image forming operation.
  • the CPU 71 sets the main motor 51 off (S 235 ).
  • the CPU 71 determines whether the error such as a paper jam is settled (S 240 ). When determining that the error is settled (S 240 : Yes), the CPU 71 goes to S 245 . Meanwhile, when determining that the error is not settled (S 240 : No), the CPU 71 repeatedly executes S 240 .
  • the CPU 71 performs the below-mentioned warming-up process (S 245 ), and then terminates the image forming process.
  • the CPU 71 sets each development device 32 to the separate state through control of the development device driving motor 52 (S 255 ).
  • the CPU 71 performs a cleaning operation to remove material adhering onto the conveying belt 23 (S 260 ), and thereafter goes to S 265 . It is noted that in S 260 , after starting the cleaning operation, the CPU 71 applies a predetermined positive voltage to each OPC cleaners 38 via the OPC cleaner bias circuit 57 so as to return the toner collected in S 220 onto the outer circumferential surfaces of the photoconductive drums 8 .
  • the CPU 71 applies a transfer bias to each transfer roller 9 via the transfer bias circuit 56 so as to transfer the toner from the photoconductive drums 8 onto the conveying belt 23 . Then, the CPU 71 applies a predetermined voltage to the belt cleaner 6 via the belt cleaner bias circuit 58 so as to collect, into the waste toner box 7 , the adhering material which contains waste toner transferred onto the conveying belt 23 from the photoconductive drums 8 .
  • the CPU 71 determines whether the cleaning operation has been completed (S 265 ). When determining that the cleaning operation has been completed (S 265 : Yes), the CPU 71 goes to S 270 . Meanwhile, when determining that the cleaning operation has not been completed (S 265 : No), the CPU 71 waits for the cleaning operation to be completely executed.
  • the CPU 71 presumes that that there is a small amount of toner adhering to the photoconductive drums 8 , the conveying belt 23 , and the OPC cleaners 38 (the toner adhering status: the first status), and clears the status flag from the flag memory area on the RAM 73 (S 275 ). Thereafter, the CPU 71 terminates the image forming process.
  • the warming-up process is launched when the image forming device 1 is powered on, and also executed in S 150 of the cover monitoring process and S 245 of the image forming process.
  • the CPU 71 determines whether the status flag is set in the flag memory area on the RAM 73 (S 310 ). When determining that the status flag is set in the flag memory area on the RAM 73 (S 310 : Yes), the CPU 71 goes to S 330 . Meanwhile, when determining that the status flag is not set in the flag memory area on the RAM 73 (S 310 : No), the CPU 71 goes to S 320 .
  • the CPU 71 performs a first warming-up mode process (S 320 ).
  • a warming-up operation in which the image forming unit 30 is set to a standby state, is executed in a first operation mode for the first status where there is a small amount of toner adhering onto the photoconductive drums 8 . Thereafter, the CPU 71 terminates the warming-up process.
  • the CPU 71 performs a second warming-up mode process (S 330 ).
  • the warming-up operation is executed in a second operation mode for the second status where there is a large amount of toner adhering onto the photoconductive drums 8 . Thereafter, the CPU 71 terminates the warming-up process.
  • the CPU 71 when the first warming-up mode process is launched, the CPU 71 turns on the main motor 51 (S 410 ). In a subsequent step S 420 , the CPU 71 sets each development device 32 to the contact state (S 420 ), and then goes to S 430 . It is noted that in S 420 , the CPU 71 controls the development device driving motor 52 to move each development device 32 to such a position as to contact a corresponding one of the photoconductive drums 8 , in the same manner as S 210 of the aforementioned image forming process.
  • the CPU 71 performs a cleaning operation (S 430 ).
  • the CPU 71 performs a remaining amount detecting operation (hereinafter, which may be referred to as a toner checking operation) to operate the toner sensors 64 so as to detect an amount of toner remaining in the toner containers 33 (S 440 ).
  • a remaining amount detecting operation hereinafter, which may be referred to as a toner checking operation
  • material adhering to the conveying belt 23 which material contains waste toner transferred from the photoconductive drums 8 to the conveying belt 23 , is collected into the waste toner box 7 .
  • the remaining amount of toner is detected by measuring a light receiving frequency at which each light receiver 44 receives the detection light based on the detection signals that the signal receiver 61 receives from the toner sensors 64 .
  • a subsequent step S 450 the CPU 71 determines whether the cleaning operation has completely been performed (S 450 ).
  • the CPU 71 goes to S 460 .
  • the CPU 71 waits for the cleaning operation to be completed.
  • the CPU 71 clears the status flag from the flag memory area on the RAM 73 (S 460 ).
  • the CPU 71 determines whether a predetermined time period has elapsed to measure the light receiving frequency at which each light receiver 44 receives the detection light, i.e., whether the toner checking operation has been completed (S 470 ).
  • S 470 determines whether a predetermined time period has elapsed to measure the light receiving frequency at which each light receiver 44 receives the detection light, i.e., whether the toner checking operation has been completed (S 470 ).
  • S 470 determines whether a predetermined time period has elapsed to measure the light receiving frequency at which each light receiver 44 receives the detection light, i.e., whether the toner checking operation has been completed (S 470 ).
  • S 470 determines whether a predetermined time period has elapsed to measure the light receiving frequency at which each light receiver 44 receives the detection light, i.e., whether the toner checking operation has been completed (S
  • the CPU 71 turns off the main motor 51 (S 480 ).
  • the CPU 71 controls the development device driving motor 52 to set each development device 32 to the separate state (S 490 ). Thereafter, the CPU 71 terminates the first warming-up mode process.
  • the second warming-up mode process is executed in S 320 of the warming-up process.
  • the CPU 71 turns on the main motor 51 (S 510 ).
  • the CPU 71 sets each development device 32 to the separate state (S 515 ), and thereafter goes to S 520 . It is noted that in S 515 , when determining that each development device 32 is set in the contact state, based on the detection result of the development device state sensor 63 , the CPU 71 controls the development device driving motor 52 to move each development device 32 to such a position as to be apart from a corresponding one of the photoconductive drums 8 .
  • the CPU 71 begins the cleaning operation (S 520 ).
  • the CPU 71 determines whether the cleaning operation has been completed (S 525 ).
  • the CPU 71 goes to S 530 .
  • the CPU 71 waits for the cleaning operation to be completed.
  • the CPU 71 turns off the main motor 51 (S 530 ).
  • the CPU 71 clears the status flag from the flag memory area on the RAM 73 (S 535 ), and thereafter goes to S 540 .
  • the CPU 71 controls the development device driving motor 52 to set each development device 32 to the contact state (S 540 ).
  • the CPU 71 turns on the main motor 51 (S 545 ), and thereafter goes to S 550 .
  • the CPU 71 begins the toner checking operation (S 550 ).
  • the CPU 71 determines whether the toner checking operation has been completed (S 555 ). When determining that the toner checking operation has been completed (S 555 : Yes), the CPU 71 goes to S 560 . Meanwhile, when determining that the toner checking operation has not been completed (S 555 : No), the CPU 71 waits for the toner checking operation to be completed. It is noted that in S 550 , in the same manner as S 440 of the aforementioned first warming-up mode process, the CPU 71 detects the remaining amount of toner by measuring the light receiving frequency at which each light receiver 44 receives the detection light.
  • the CPU 71 turns off the main motor 51 (S 560 ).
  • the CPU 71 controls the development device driving motor 52 to set each development device 32 to the separate state (S 565 ), and thereafter terminates the second warming-up mode process.
  • the image forming device 1 when powered on, the image forming device 1 configured as above is set to a preparation state S 1 where the warming-up operation is performed.
  • the image forming device 1 is transferred from the preparation state S 1 to a standby state S 2 where an image forming operation is executable.
  • the image forming device 1 When receiving a print request from an external device in the standby state S 2 , the image forming device 1 is set to a printing state S 4 where an image forming operation is performed.
  • an error such as an error that the top cover 3 is opened and a paper jam
  • the image forming device 1 is transferred from the printing state S 4 to the error state S 3 .
  • the error is fixed, the image forming device 1 is transferred from the error state S 3 to the preparation state S 1 .
  • the image forming device 1 When no error is caused during the image forming operation, after the image forming operation, the image forming device 1 is transferred from the printing state S 4 to the standby state S 2 .
  • the image forming device 1 performs the warming-up operation in the second warming-up mode, when powered off in the error state S 3 and thereafter powered on and set to the preparation state S 1 , or when transferred directly to the preparation state S 1 from the error state S 3 . Meanwhile, the image forming device 1 performs the warming-up operation in the first warming-up mode, when powered off in a non-error state (e.g., the standby state S 2 ) and thereafter powered on and set to the preparation state S 1 .
  • a non-error state e.g., the standby state S 2
  • the image forming device 1 performs the warming-up operation in the second warming-up mode in the following cases.
  • One is a case where a large amount of toner is presumed to remain on the photoconductive drums 8 , e.g., when the image forming operation is forcibly terminated in execution, or a user forcibly pulls out a sheet to fix a paper jam.
  • contamination such as dust is presumed to adhere onto the photoconductive drums 8 when the top cover 3 is opened.
  • the image forming device 1 sets the development devices 32 to the contact state and performs the cleaning operation and the toner checking operation concurrently, in the warming-up operation, when it is presumed that there is a small amount of toner adhering onto the photoconductive drums 8 . Meanwhile, when it is presumed that there is a large amount of toner adhering onto the photoconductive drums 8 , the image forming device 1 sets the development devices 32 to the separate state and performs the cleaning operation, and thereafter sets the development devices 32 to the contact state and performs the toner checking operation.
  • the image forming device 1 it is possible to reduce a risk that waste toner on the photoconductive drums 8 might be mixed into toner in the development devices 32 , without taking an unnecessary time for each warming-up operation. Thereby, it is possible to perform the warming-up operation in an efficient and certain manner.
  • the image forming device 1 of the embodiment since the status flag is set in the cover monitoring process when the top cover 3 is opened, the warming-up operation is performed in the second warming-up mode in the warming-up process. Thus, it is possible to reduce a risk that contamination such as dust adhering onto the photoconductive drums 8 might be mixed with toner in the development devices 32 when the top cover 3 is opened.
  • the image forming device 1 of the embodiment performs the cleaning operation each time printing image data based on a print request in the image forming process.
  • the OPC cleaners 38 it is possible to prevent the OPC cleaners 38 from holding a large amount of toner.
  • the status flag when the top cover 3 is opened, the status flag is set.
  • the status flag may be set when the top cover 3 is further opened relative to a predetermined position, or the top cover 3 is fully opened, depending on an opened (closed) state of the top cover 3 .
  • the operational mode for the warming-up operation is determined based on whether the status flag is set in the flag memory area on the RAM 73 .
  • the operational mode for the warming-up operation may be determined based on the amount of toner adhering onto the photoconductive drums 8 that is estimated based on the detection result of each toner sensor 64 .
  • each photoconductive drum 8 is disposed to contact the conveying belt 23 .
  • each photoconductive drum 8 may be disposed to at least face the conveying belt 23 .

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Control Or Security For Electrophotography (AREA)
  • Color Electrophotography (AREA)
  • Cleaning In Electrography (AREA)
US12/816,702 2009-07-31 2010-06-16 Image forming device Expired - Fee Related US8204392B2 (en)

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JP2009179217A JP4930558B2 (ja) 2009-07-31 2009-07-31 画像形成装置
JP2009-179217 2009-07-31

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JP6149378B2 (ja) * 2012-10-24 2017-06-21 ブラザー工業株式会社 画像形成装置
WO2016070435A1 (zh) * 2014-11-07 2016-05-12 华为技术有限公司 一种获取用户设备ue信息的方法和装置

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JPH11194662A (ja) 1997-12-26 1999-07-21 Canon Inc 画像形成装置
JP2001324859A (ja) 2000-05-17 2001-11-22 Seiko Epson Corp 画像形成装置および画像形成方法
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JP2011033786A (ja) 2011-02-17
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